Dr. Mario SoaresMr. Prime Minister,
I know that you in Portugal share our enthusiasm for the use of computers in schools. Professor Simao, your Minister for Industry, made this clear during his recent visit to London.
We take great pride in British achievements in this field. These marvellous machines now seem second nature to our children. Our aim is that every schoolchild in Britain should have access to a computer. [end p1]
Per head of population, Britain has the highest use of home computers in Europe. They are not only useful, they are fun to use!
Britain and Portugal have worked together in each phase of technology—sail, steam, electricity and now micro-chip. We look forward confidently to a future together. Nowhere is this more relevant than in serving our young people. [end p2]
It gives me great pleasure today to be able to present to you a hundred computers, some of which are on display here, which have been manufactured in Portugal under arrangements with the British company, Sinclair Research Limited. I hope they will be of great benefit to your education programmes.